Here's a few photos taken while on a trip to the north.
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Most
of you know that I don’t enjoy Christmas.
While I’m not a Grinch and wouldn’t think of keeping the rest of the
world from having their fun, I prefer to put some distance between myself and
the holiday. Yet I can never get
completely away, not even in Chiang Mai.
You can hear Jingle Bells or Bing Crosby crooning White Christmas at
many places around the city. I decided
to take a trip toward the Thai – Laos border.
On the way I stopped for coffee.
Actually I stopped several times for coffee. Northern Thailand has plenty of it, but I
wasn’t expecting to be served by Santa’s elves.
“Melly Cheesmas.”
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My
destination was Phu Chee Fa, which I am told is the second highest peak in
Thailand, with great vistas and even better sunsets.
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That's my destination. Those
Clouds don’t look threatening, but they come into play later on.
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Promises,
promises.
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The view from the summit. Do you remember the Goodrich Blimp?
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The
ride down the mountain provided the best vistas.
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Northern Thailand still reigns supreme in my mind as a coffee destination. I stopped here for coffee and some more pictures. There are “resort” hotels here costing from $35 to $70 per night, including two meals per day. That’s important because there aren’t any restaurants in the vicinity.
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There are many ways to and from Phu Chee Fa, so I took a different route down the mountain. This is Phu Sang Falls, located between Phu Chee Fa and the town of Chiang Kham.
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Later in the day my friend Art and I had Pad See-ew for Christmas dinner.
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Just
in case you were wondering what it costs to motorcycle around in Thailand. Prices shown are per liter, or litre if you
are British. This converts to about
$5.58 per gallon for 91 Red.
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Northern Thailand has the best coffee on the planet (am I repeating myself?) and the best coffee in Phayao was found at a small stand in the downtown market area. Email me for the gps co-ords, or just look for this guy.
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OK, I admit it. |
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The
morning market in Phayao.
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Sunset
at the lake, Phayao.
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My
friend Art lives in this hut in a small village area near Pong, which is near
Chun, which is near Phayao. It’s similar
to those 2500 sq.ft. cabins at Lake Tahoe.
His wife has a small store downstairs, selling stationery and
gifts. They have a new baby, about eight
weeks old now. They have three
dogs, and this one loves to play tug o’ war.
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Wat
Analayo is located on the west side of the lake at Phayao. It’s an active wat with a convention or
retreat in going on while I was visiting.
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Pigs,
dogs, chickens, monkeys, goats, donkeys, snakes, rats and rabbits… I visited
the wat during dry season. But during
the rainy season water flows from these figure heads, and during a special
ceremony you select which to use based on your year of birth.
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Puppy
love… and ice cream love. Call me
sentimental, but I have always taken pleasure in watching kids with dogs, and eating
chocolate desserts and getting it all over their face.
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No, Laos doen't have any ocean beaches, but it's such a good picture I had to borrow it to wish every one a Happy New Year.
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